Scott Kelly: Infinite Wonder

Evening Program

Saturday, November 3, 2018 - 7:00 p.m.

Code: 1L0234

Astronaut Scott Kelly returning from a year in space (Photo: Bill Ingalls/NASA)

The veteran of four space flights and the American record holder for consecutive days spent in space, astronaut Scott Kelly has experienced things very few have. He knows what it feels like to be launched in a rocket, what happens to your body in zero gravity, and what happens when you get a toothache 250 miles above Earth.

Kelly’s new book, Infinite Wonder: An Astronaut's Photographs from a Year in Space, features a collection of photos that document his journey on the International Space Station, the vastness of space, and the beauty of our home planet. To produce the images, he learned the rare art of microgravity photography. Using a Nikon D4 with a long 800mm lens and a 1.4x magnifying zoom lens, he panned the camera as the shutter released in order to compensate for the space station's velocity: 17,500 mph relative to the earth.

Kelly—who shared many of the photos on Instagram—captured sunsets, moonrises, the aurora borealis, and the Milky Way, as well as snapshots of life and work on the International Space Station, from spacewalks to selfies.

Drawing on Infinite Wonder, as well as last year’s Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery, Kelly recounts his mission on the International Space Station. He describes navigating the extreme challenges of long-term spaceflight, both existential and banal: the devastating effects on the body; the pressures of constant close cohabitation; the catastrophic risks of depressurization or colliding with space junk; and more. Hear Kelly discuss his life on and off the planet, and why he believes his photographs from space provide a passionate argument for the preservation of our planet in the face of climate change and environmental destruction.

SPECIAL DETAILS

The price includes a signed paperback copy of Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery.

Kelly's new book, Infinite Wonder (Knopf), will be available for purchase and signing at this program.